DARNS: No increased radioactivity outside the factory in Stup

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The State Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (DARNS) as the institution responsible for implementing the Law on Radiation and Nuclear Safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette of BiH" No. 88/07), which includes supervision of the radiation safety of citizens and the environment, issued a press release after media reported on a radiation incident at the former Energoinvest - Termoaparati factory in Stup.

"A radiological incident occurred during the commencement of works on one of the facilities at the Energoinvest site in December 2019. At that time, internal contamination occurred within the facility caused by radioactive material Cs-137. According to all established facts so far, this radiation incident is classified as the lowest level, i.e., "Level-1" on the INES scale. Immediately upon learning of the problem, DARNS, in accordance with its competencies, undertook all necessary activities and measures to promptly remediate the situation and resolve the problem. DARNS prescribed measures, obligating the facility owner regarding their responsibilities in the new situation.

From that moment on, DARNS has been monitoring the situation and, in accordance with its competencies, is taking all necessary actions to resolve this problem as soon as possible, in accordance with existing legislation and international standards.

The Radiation Protection Centre of the Public Health Institute of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a licensed institution qualified for decontamination and radiation safety control, has been involved in resolving the problem since the beginning. For these purposes, DARNS, in line with good practice in international cooperation, engaged expert and licensed companies and specialists from Croatia and Serbia, who were of great assistance. These experts, who have much greater experience in such matters, will continue to be engaged in resolving this problem, along with us.

DARNS hereby wishes to inform the public in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially the residents of the Stup settlement, as well as all those who work or pass through this area, that the contaminated facility has been marked and secured against unauthorized access 24 hours a day.

The management of DARNS is monitoring the radiation levels at the facility and in the surrounding area through inspections, and we hereby inform the public that there is no increased radioactivity outside the marked facility. Given the above, DARNS believes there is no reason for concern for the health of the population and the environment, and therefore we ask the media, as well as citizens, not to cause panic and not to succumb to rumors.

We hereby invite all citizens to inform the competent authorities if they notice any attempt at unauthorized access to the marked facility. We also wish to express our readiness to cooperate with other experts in the field of radiation protection or environmental protection from Bosnia and Herzegovina or the region, who believe they can contribute to resolving this issue, to contact DARNS for cooperation, via email or phone," stated DARNS.